Boys From The Dwarf

Red Dwarf: The First Three Million Years, Episode 1
First Broadcast: 06.08.2020 (Dave)
VHS Release: N/A
DVD Release: N/A
Blu-ray Release: N/A

Directed by Richard Ward

Synopsis

Boys from the Dwarf looks at the origins of Red Dwarf. It features Craig Charles, Robert Llewellyn, Chris Barrie and Danny John-Jules, as well as co-creator and writer Doug Naylor, supporting cast, key crew members and celebrity fans Katy Brand, Nish Kumar and Nick Helm. The episode tackles the complex journey the pilot script undertook through multiple rejections, as well as explains how the show very nearly didn't happen due to an electrician's strike. We are taken through the casting process and imagine what the show would have been like with alternate stars Alfred Molina, Hugh Laurie and Kathy Burke. While the early reviews were frosty to say the least, we learn how it was the audience response that ensured the show's longevity and success.

Did You Know?

Episode one brought in 369,000 individual viewers overnight, amounting to a 2.4% share of all commercial viewings at that time. It was the second highest overnight figure for a new show launching on Dave that year, having only been beaten by The Promised Land.

Episode one was originally broadcast with a dedication to Red Dwarf website editor Seb Patrick, who passed away before the series aired. The dedication read "Thank you to Seb Patrick, for everything he did for the Red Dwarf Community".